Personal Narrative: Going Into Sixth Grade Band

It started when I was in the 6th grade A Man by the name of Mr. Williams showed up to my school and presented us with instruments out of all the ones he showed us I picked the clarinet for the start of my musical career. we only met up once a week but I did learn how to play and read all the basics. I continued on the clarinet for 2 more years but,I switch to saxophone in my second year of Middle School. it wasn't very difficult to make the switch because the saxophone and the clarinet are both woodwind instruments. The only difficulty

When I was in sixth grade, I went to the middle school band meeting to pick out our instruments. I immediately was drawn towards the saxophone, probably because it was so weird looking, and my dad suggested that I played it. Later, I met my new band teacher, Mr.McArthur, and it turned out that he played the saxophone in high school and college. My parents bought me the instrument that night and I brought it home hastily and opened the case straight away. I was so excited to play it, but with my inexperience, I put the mouthpiece on upside down. I tried practicing it a couple times but the only sound that came out was discordant squeaks and tuneless noises. Finally, school started and on Thursdays I rushed to the band room. Eventually, I started

I have been a part of the school band since I was in 6th grade, so that’s coming up on 7 years now. I started off on clarinet and then learned to play the oboe. In middle school band, there was not a lot of moments where individuals get to show off, even in the symphonic band. It was more of everyone gets equal opportunity to play and there were very few, if any, solos. However, in high school, almost every piece we have played has at least one solo in it. Everyone who plays the instrument gets to try out and whoever does it best gets chosen. For the most part, the oboe is not a popular instrument and if a school band has one it is usually no more than two. My school only had one oboe player and guess who got the crucial solo in the ballad,

I began playing the trumpet in the fifth grade. Back then, I loved playing the trumpet. We had band practice at the end of the school day every Tuesday and Thursday, and I looked forward to those rehearsals every single week. I loved it because in elementary school, the directors didn’t care about my tone quality. They didn’t care about how talented I was. They couldn’t care less whether or not I practiced. I loved it because it just gave me an opportunity to socialize with my friends more.

I don’t remember if it was my choice or my parents, but in 5th grade when we were given the choice to be in band, I was very anxious to start. We got to meet with Mrs. Jones and try a few different instruments before making a decision. My top three choices were percussion, trombone, and clarinet (only because my sister had played it). I tried the clarinet first and thought it was alright, but not my favorite. I tried the trombone next, and while it was difficult, I really wanted to keep trying. I also tried percussion- she just had me keep a beat on my leg- and I thought percussion may be difficult for me, but I still wanted to do it. In the end, Mrs. Jones decided I would be best fit for the clarinet, mostly because I could use my sisters and not have to buy a new instrument. I was happy with the choice, mostly because I was excited to be playing anything!

I played it repeatedly until I perfected it, but then I just needed more music to play. My parents bought me a few books full of trumpet music, and I spent countless hours perfecting the solos from those books. I particularly enjoyed playing music by Herb Alpert, and I found that I could listen to a recording of one of his songs and then emulate his stylistic techniques when I played the same song. As I played the trumpet more often and got better at it, I realized that I enjoyed playing solos in general, regardless of whether I was playing a solo on my own or playing a solo in our music for band

In the first grade, I picked up a clarinet. It was my sister’s, collecting dust while waiting for me to play it. From the moment I produced my first sound, an ear-piercing squeal that frightened my dog, the path of my life took a turn for the better. I began teaching myself for the following three years, along with learning from my sister how to properly play the beautiful instrument. The music pushed me out of my comfort zone: concerts that forced me onstage, tests that made me play difficult songs, and teachers that pushed me to be an exceptional player. From the shy elementary school student I used to be to the outgoing band member I take joy in being today, music has shaped my everyday life.

I went to every lesson and breezed through my lesson book. I was first chair both years and even sat across from Stephenie as we were both first chair for our respective instruments. I took every available opportunity I had to be able to play it including solo contest. Fifth grade band wasn’t anything super remarkable, however band in sixth grade changed the course of my musical career. It started with the arrival of Mrs.Bell, our new sixth grade band teacher. She was very sweet and always encouraged me to keep playing. Mrs.Bell was the reason I took a solo for Jazz band. I would help out in her office and hang out after school. I had even missed classes to help Mrs.Bell set up for honor band even though I didn’t make it in. I always looked forward to going to lessons. I even began taking extra lessons so I could perform in the middle school talent show. I had decided to play the theme from Rocky on my clarinet. All of my practicing had paid off and I delivered an excellent solo and I was very proud of

In sixth grade I decided to join band at the middle school. This made a difference in my life because it would decide which friends I would have in middle school. So every Thursday and Friday after school I would ride the bus to the middle school just to play band. The instrument I played was the trumpet because it looks easy to play I mean come on it only has three buttons. The first day of playing it I got one very unsteady note out. I wanted to get better so I practised at home mostly everyday to sound better.

My freshman year I played trumpet in my school band where I developed my musical understanding of music notes, rhythms and pitches. But I hated playing the trumpet, I was never any good at it; however, one day thinking I was alone, I was singing through the halls and my music teacher stopped me and told me to join our chorus. From that moment, my highschool career changed.

If I could change one thing to improve the Middle School Band Program, I would try to get the high school band members more involved in the development of the younger musicians in the Middle School Band Programs. As we know, our Middle Schools have continuously proven themselves to be skilled and advanced on the highest level, therefore, the concepts being taught are working. However, through my experience, it seems as if us Middle School Students assume that our ability to play instruments is capped at a certain level. Without a long term goal focused towards High School, we just learn our music and play. For me, after meeting with current upperclassmen in wake of drumline auditions, I realized that there was much more work to be done. As

First off was the 6th grade band. I must admit, I missed several of these songs for 2 reasons. Firstly, my mother wanted to skip as much of the concert as she could before seeing my sister since she was tired, and secondly: because the auditorium was completely filled as we entered the school, so we decided to walk all the way around the school to the opposite side of the bleachers, where only a few people were sitting. I saw Tyler and Micayla in the crowd; two of the many high schoolers forced to support their siblings’ musical efforts.

Ever since I was a toddler, music has always interested me. From requesting to listen to the jazz station on the car radio while driving, to picking up the saxophone for the first time at ten years old. I became engulfed in music. I started out taking lessons at twelve years old on bass guitar and was taught theory simultaneously within these lessons from my instructor. At age sixteen, I began playing guitar and singing.

Like most during grade school, I was exposed to a number of different musical instruments. My older

Angry, frustrated, and yearning for a different elective, my mom made me take orchestra in the seventh grade. The teacher, easygoing and friendly, was much better than my last teacher, and he encouraged me to compete in a regional solo competition. I reluctantly agreed